Shot with 2 Canon speedlights, one on camera bounced off the ceiling, the other from the side to highlight the hair. Shot in the late evening for the light coming through the window.
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Place: 152 out of 290 Avg (all users): 5.0485 Avg (commenters): 5.7000 Avg (participants): 4.8990 Avg (non-participants): 5.1361 Views since voting: 2096 Views during voting: 505 Votes: 268 Comments: 15 Favorites: 2 (view)
I see the purple pattern and dress as bringing back fond memories for her when associated with her expression. It took me a few seconds to see that the primary image is a reflection, so that likely caused trouble with the voting. I think that it adds a full dimension to the image to have the bare shoulder the way it is. The image meets the challenge just fine to me. The purple pattern is the focal point of the emotion connected with the image. The backlit highlight in the hair is a plus too.
I think it would help if the purple was more prominent.
I think this was your biggest problem. I didn't vote in this challenge or entered but had I entered I would have tried to make purple very prominent. Subtle just doesn't go well when it's in regards to meeting the challenge theme. Others seem to hit on some other points which I think are valid but DNMC was your biggest issue, IMO even though there is purple in the shot.
On first look I didnt notice that this is a reflection in a mirror so I thought the shoulder in front was a distracting element - if "quick voters" also took this thought that may have cost some points. Once I looked properly I see it is a nice image but the purple is just not prominent for this challenge. The composition is good and the lighting adds interest (especially on her hair). I'm still not sure that the blurred shoulder actually works in this shot.
hi scarbrd, once again your wife is an excellent model, very expressive. The makeup seems overdone, but then I wonder if it suggests a story. Perhaps she is a showgirl about to go out. No, the room is too nice. She is a showgirl who has been brought back to the home of a rich gentleman. He is off in the bathroom. She has removed her kimono and is wondering if this is the right life for her. but what is so special about the kimono... perhaps it was a gift from a man who truly loved her, a poor man whom she despised for being poor, surrounded as she was with wealth. In the mirror she notices just how heavily she has been putting on makeup lately, and she realizes that she is compensating for the first signs of age. It is thoughts of aging that is making her question her priorities, her rejection of a man who truly loves her... for when her beauty fades she will have nothing, nothing at all. I'll give you a 7 for now and might bump you up later.
Hey, this is the lady in the misty window isn't it? Hmmm...I'm not seeing very much purple or shades thereof...what the heck...Hooray for not flowers! Wait...those are flowers aren't they? What the heck...
The challenge is about the color. This picture doesn't tell me purple. I had to scan the picture for purple....didn;t see much....checked the title....realized, "Oh, maybe its just the tiny purple flowers on the dress". Beautiful model, but your score might be lower than you'd like due to the lack of purple. Best of luck!
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